The Major Series of Poker: The Tour made its debut at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines for the inaugural Illinois Poker State Championship. The $1,100 buy-in no-limit maintain’em occasion attracted 1,807 entries, a brand new field-size report for the state. As a end result, the prize pool swelled to $1,751,290, topping the assure by greater than $1 million.
While the occasion was new, the eventual champion has been a fixture on the poker scene for effectively over a decade. Longtime journalist and participant Mo Nuwwarah emerged victorious from the large turnout, securing his second MSPT title and a career-best payday of $205,499 for the win.
“It feels good,” Nuwwarah advised MSPT workers after popping out on prime. “I mean, it’s been a pretty swingy year, but also a good one so far. A little bit more good than bad, but I’ve blown a few heads-up battles in these before, so it feels good to get win number two in the books.”
Nuwwarah’s Lifetime Earnings Tick Over $1.2 Million
Nuwwarah has labored in poker media because the early 2010s, and after just a few years overlaying sports activities betting, has lately returned to overlaying the sport. In addition to his intensive résumé overlaying the gaming scene, the Card Player contributor has additionally constructed a powerful trophy assortment together with his exploits on the felt. His first MSPT triumph got here in 2024, when he took down the primary occasion at Bally’s Black Hawk for $155,189. Later that 12 months he got here out on prime within the World Series of Poker Online $1,000 pot-limit Omaha occasion for $135,172 and a bracelet.
With this newest triumph, the Omaha, Nebraska native’s profession match haul grew to over $1.2 million.
The victory additionally got here with 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year factors. This was the primary title and third final-table end of the 12 months for the PokerScout deputy editor. With 1,880 complete factors, he now sits simply outdoors of the highest 150 within the 2026 POY race standings offered by CoinPoker.
Closing Out The Win
The closing day of this occasion was a marathon session, with 198 gamers returning inside the cash to minimize a winner. Plenty of massive names ran deep, together with MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz (96th), three-time MSPT champion Josh Reichard (89th), and Brett ‘Pops’ Reichard (fiftieth).
Matthew Schurter was the chip chief when the ultimate desk was set, with Nuwwarah sitting on the next-largest stack. 2024 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond predominant occasion winner Evan Bethyo bowed out in ninth place, incomes $27,626 after his pocket aces have been cracked by the pocket jacks of Greg Koutelidakis. A set of jacks additionally noticed Nuwwarah rating his first knockout of the ultimate desk, together with his pocket pair enhancing on a jack-high runout to ship David Kowal packing in sixth place ($56,978).
The closing 5 gamers then hashed out a deal to redistribute the remaining prize cash primarily based on ICM numbers. Nuwwarah, with the chip lead on the time of the settlement, was awarded the most important payout and the title. All 5 walked away with six-figure scores, with Koutelidakis’ $163,737 being the second-largest sum of the group.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
| 1 | Mohammed Nuwwarah | $205,499 | 1,080 |
| 2 | Gregory Koutelidakis | $163,737 | 900 |
| 3 | Matt Miller | $149,137 | 720 |
| 4 | Michael Holme | $128,032 | 540 |
| 5 | Bruce Fagan | $114,829 | 450 |
| 6 | David Kowal | $56,978 | 360 |
| 7 | Matthew Schurter | $44,892 | 270 |
| 8 | Benjamin Krauss | $34,532 | 180 |
| 9 | Evan Bethyo | $27,626 | 90 |
Photo credit: MSPT
